President Obama Announces Environmental Accord

President Obama Announces Environmental Accord

President Obama believes that no challenge poses a greater threat to our children, our planet, and future generations

than climate change — and that no other country on Earth is better equipped to lead the world towards a solution.

That’s why under President Obama’s leadership, the UnitedStates has done more to combat climate change than ever

before.

CUT CARBON POLLUTION

• Established the first-ever national carbon pollution standards for power plants, the largest source of carbon pollution in our country. The CleanPower Plan gives states flexible, cost-effective tools to cut carbon pollution from these plants by 32% from 2005 levels by 2030 while preventing thousands of premature deaths and tens of thousands of childhood asthma attacks by reducing other power plant emissions.

• Set standards to double the fuel economy of passenger vehicles by 2025 and established the first-ever fuel economy standards for medium and heavy-duty trucks.

• Launched the American Business Act on Climate Pledge, with major American companies voicing support for a strong international climate agreement in Paris and making major new commitments to cut carbon pollution, boost clean energy, and increase low-carbon investment. As of the latest round of pledges in October, 81 businesses — representing all 50 states, 9 million people, and a combined market capitalization of more than $5 trillion — committed to support the Paris climate process.

• Developed and are implementing a strategy to reduce methane emissions, including new standards to cut emissions from oil and gas development as well as support for new technologies to detect and measure methane emissions.